With the festive period in full swing, pupils at Ballinamallard Primary School are on their best behaviour following the arrival of cheeky elves who are keeping an eye out for Santa Claus – but will they make the Naughty Or Nice List this year? We asked Year 2 pupils their thoughts during a recent visit to the school.

Smiling angelically, Rosie was confident that she was on the Nice list – but Bobby wasn’t so sure what list he was on.

However, he was a little more certain what list his parents’ names are on.

“They never get presents every year, so they’re probably on the Naughty list,” said Bobby.

“My mum’s on the Nice list and my dad’s on the Naughty list,” added Rosie with a laugh.

Emily believes she’s on Santa Claus’ Nice list. When asked how she knows, she said: “Because I was last year, and this year.”

On December 1, Santa’s Elves on the Shelves arrived in Ballinamallard homes with a bang, and according to the Year 2 pupils, they have been up to no good ever since.

When asked what her elf has been up to, Rosie’s eyes widened.

“He did a fake toy poop into my brother’s face,” she said, adding that her older brother was very annoyed.

A bit of a theme arose when it came to the elves’ shenanigans. “One peed in my bed,” said Reuben, a shocked expression on his face.

Emily was just as shocked by her elf’s actions: “Last year, my elf pooped in the sink. But he done that because he didn’t want to fall in the toilet.”

Leaning forward, she added: “Guess what? See the first day that my elf came? My elf gave me a present. D’you know what was in it? Like, chocolate coins, and wee jammies, and, like, wee fluffy socks for bed.

“And d’you know what I did with the chocolate coins? I took one chocolate coin and left it for my elf,” she said, beaming.

Holly’s naughty elf knocked the Christmas tree over, while Maddie said that her elf “made a mess”.

Talking about his bold elf, Tommy said: “He got some sugar, and then he done a snowflake.”

Matthew’s elf was a little less naughty than some of the others. “Yesterday my elf went in my stocking, and today he’s in a piece of toast, and he called himself toastie,” he said, giggling as he remembered.

All the children agreed that they are looking forward to Christmas, particularly to Santa coming and bringing them presents.

Bobby hopes to get a scooter, but he admitted that he hasn’t written his letter to Santa yet. “I’m going to do that tonight,” he said.

Rosie is looking forward to Santa bringing her a ‘Happy Napper’. When asked what that is, she explained: “A sleeping bag, but they just pop out and pop in.”

Holly and Maddie have both asked Santa for dolls. “I’ve asked for Generation Girl. She’s a girl that goes to school,” said Holly.

Matthew explained that he was getting a “yo-yo that comes up without a tug”, while Tommy has asked for a ‘Switch’.

“It’s small, like you can play games on it,” he explained.

But have any of them seen the man himself?

“I have, a couple of times,” said Bobby of his multiple Santa Claus sightings. “Once in The Valley Hotel and once in Irvinestown, and then again in Irvinestown. Loads of times in Irvinestown.”

Emily told us that she had seen Santa just the day before.

“At a wee, like, Christmas thing that you can, like, go to a place and then you get to go on a train and, like, it takes you up to Santa’s room, and you, like, get a present from him,” she said.

Maddie recently saw Santa in Ballinamallard. “When the Christmas lights were going on,” she explained: “He was on a tractor.”

It was a little further afield that Reuben saw Santa Claus. “I seen him at the North Pole,” he said.

Aside from Santa’s arrival and opening the presents he brings, the children are looking forward to eating a roast dinner on Christmas Day – well, most of it.

Emily said that she eats all of her Christmas dinner, but Matthew wasn’t keen on one particular item.

“Not the Brussels sprouts,” he said, screwing up his face: “I don’t like them!”

Bobby echoed this, saying: “I don’t like the taste.”

Reuben enjoys eating his Christmas dinner too, but he chooses another form of meat over the traditional turkey.

“I only like beef,” said Reuben, adding that he also has “yummy cheesecake” instead of Christmas pudding.

“D’you know what I like?” said Emily: “The Christmas crackers! With the jokes, they’re really funny.”

“Pulling them’s my favourite,” agreed Matthew.

Finally, do the children think we’ll get a white Christmas this year?

“Yes, a lot,” said Matthew, confidently.

“I really want the snow because I have a sled and I love sleddin’,” said Emily.

“Last year I was doing it. My mummy’s car was in the way and I went straight into the wheel,” she added with a giggle: “I crashed into the car wheel! So mummy had to move the car.”

It’s not just the children who are looking forward to Christmas – teacher Mrs. Kyra McCutcheon is also excited.

She said: “I am really looking forward to Santa coming, and I’m in with the children just until Christmas. I’ve been loving it; they’re great.”

She explained that one of Santa Claus’ elves arrived in her classroom on December 1 too.

“[The children] are all being extra good at the minute, but they’re good anyway,” said Mrs. McCutcheon.

When asked what the classroom elf has been up to so far, she said: “At the minute he’s climbing up the hot water pipe and has a little booklet for all the Naughty names.

“But there are no names in it yet – thank goodness,” she said with a smile.